I can’t believe spring break is over and I’m back at school *sigh*. But while I’m no longer living it up in New Orleans, I thought I could pretend I’m there a little longer with this travel guide. But before I get into the nitty gritty about what to do, where to stay, etc. I wanted to share this look I wore to the airport on my flight back.
I woke up at 4:45 am to get to the airport in time, so comfort was key that morning. And I don’t know about you, but I’m always so cold on flights. So, with that being said, of course I packed the comfiest joggers I have ever worn. My mom actually found these and liked them so much she went back to buy herself another pair and pick up a pair for me. They literally feel like pajamas. I kept the look simple and neutral with a white bralette and cami. I paired it off with my denim jacket (again I get cold) and the shoes you’re all probably tired of seeing me wear—I really need to find something as comfortable and versatile as these.
All around, it was the perfect outfit to travel: comfy, cute, and versatile. And now that the outfit is out of the way, let’s get into my travel guide!
Where to Stay
I went with my roommate, her mom, and her mom’s friend and we stayed at the Homewood Suites on Rampart Street. We all really liked this location because it was close enough to everything in the French Quarter without being in the middle (i.e. no noise!).
If you’re looking for something fancier, Hotel Monteleone seems like a great choice. We went in to see the carousel bar and stayed to walk around and look at the opulent decor. It’s right in the French Quarter and literary greats like Truman Capote, William Faulkner, and Ernest Hemingway have all patronized the hotel. There’s even some rumor of some hauntings if you’re interested in that!
Another cool hotel we saw was the Cornstalk Fence Hotel. It’s a boutique, luxury hotel, and while we didn’t actually go inside like we did with Hotel Monteleone, it’s gorgeous from the outside. Like Hotel Monteleone, it has some famous guests as well as haunting rumors.
Where to Eat
Dinner—we really only had a “real” dinner twice (we filled up during the day on lunch/snacks!), but we did enjoy two restaurants.
- Nola Cantina: they had fantastic tacos and margaritas
- Emeril’s NOLA: we all enjoyed our dinner, but the service was subpar
Brunch—we went to brunch twice at the same place (different locations though) because we loved it soooo much. If you’re in the French Quarter or uptown NOLA definitely check out Toast.
Sweets—with all the walking we did, we justified our sweet tooth. Definitely check out these two places!
- Cafe du Monde: I don’t think you can say you went to New Orleans if you don’t go here. All I can say is beignets are amazing.
- Sucre: if you like macarons the ones at Sucre are so good! They also have gelato, desserts, plus a restaurant for dinner or brunch.
What to Do
- Tours: my roommate and I booked both a ghost and a vampire tour through Haunted History Tours and we LOVED them! Next time I go to New Orleans, I want to check out the company’s cemetery tour and the haunted pub crawl. The tour guides obviously love what they do, and if you’re interested in history and the macabre like I am, they’re so knowledgeable. Definitely my favorite part of the trip. We also went on a city tour throughout all of New Orleans which is a good idea if you want to get a bigger picture of the city aside from the French Quarter.
- Ferry ride: although we ended up not going on the jazz cruise, we took the Algiers Point Ferry on a sunny day and walked around Algiers Point. It’s a cute neighborhood that’s fun for looking at houses. Plus the ferry was only $2 each!
- Walk around: honestly, one of the best things to do is grab a drink (you can walk around with them!) and stroll through the French Quarter. We ended up finding the cutest mask shop on Royal Street, plus a vampire boutique that resulted in us getting invited to a vampire speakeasy! Such a fun experience.
- Shop on Magazine Street: if you’re a shopper—and if you’re reading this blog I’m guessing you are—Magazine Street is the place to be. There are so many cute boutiques and when you get tired of shopping you can stop at Sucre’s other location on this street.
- Visit the Garden District: while shopping on Magazine Street, definitely make time to go sight-seeing in the Garden District. The houses are absolutely gorgeous and you might even spot a celebrity!
- Listen to live jazz on Frenchmen Street: my roommate and I went to Frenchmen Street our last night to get dinner and listen to live jazz. The band that was playing was so talented and the vibe was just really fun. We didn’t make it to a jazz club, but I hear they’re great too!
- Jazz concert at Preservation Hall: Jenna (my roommate) and I are so upset that we didn’t make it to a jazz concert. The one we were planning to go to was cancelled and we couldn’t make the later one because we had a tour booked. But the reviews say this is possibly the most fun part of anyone’s trip to NOLA, so I am planning to go in the future.
- City Park: if you want to get away from the French Quarter/city life, check out City Park! It has everything—mini golf, an amusement park, bike riding, boating, restaurants, an art museum, a botanical garden, and more! We went mini golfing and then had lunch in the museum’s cafe where we had the best salad I think I’ve ever had. You could spend multiple days at City Park alone.
So there you have it, my complete New Orleans travel guide. If you liked this post, let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out my London travel guide here.
xo,
Carey
Cami | Joggers | Similar Jacket | Shoes | Watch | Similar Bag | Lipstick in “Satin Ribbon”
